Megawati joins the chorus blaming forest destruction
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja and Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta/Bahorok
President Megawati Soekarnoputri expressed her condolences on Wednesday to the relatives of more than 100 people killed in devastating floods in North Sumatra, and ordered her ministers to ease the sufferings of the victims.
She sent her husband Taufik Kiemas and Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Jusuf Kalla and Minister of Social Affairs Bachtiar Chamsyah to see the bereaved families in Bahorok subdistrict, Langkat regency.
Speaking in Bahorok, some 100 kilometers from the provincial capital of Medan, on Wednesday, Kalla pledged Rp 50 billion (US$5.8 million) to rebuild bridges and hundreds of homes swept away by the flood on Sunday night.
Another Rp 1.5 billion would also be disbursed as donations for the families of the deceased with each to receive Rp 2 million.
The funds will also be used to help cover the medical costs of those injured in the deluge who are being treated in local hospitals.
"The assistance has been approved by the House of Representatives and in the near future, the funds will be channeled to the provincial government," Kalla told journalists.
The United States said on Wednesday it had provided US$50,000 in assistance for those affected by the natural disaster.
"Our hearts go out to the victims of this natural disaster. Hopefully, this assistance will help people to put their lives back together," U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia Ralph L. Boyce said in a press statement.
Rescue workers pressed ahead with their grim search for more bodies and survivors after the flood swept away the popular resort town of Bukit Lawang, Bahorok, where more than 200 people are feared dead.
A rescue team of police, troops and civilian volunteers had found at least 111 bodies after eight more victims were discovered on Wednesday.
The search for 146 people still missing as of Wednesday would continue for two weeks. On Tuesday, only 86 victims were reported missing.
Officials have said there is little hope of finding any of them alive after the flood, which was blamed largely on illegal logging in the nearby Mount Leuser National Park.
The disaster relief agency in Bahorok said the rescuers lacked heavy equipment to remove hundreds of logs and other debris at the scene.
Like other officials and environmentalists, Megawati blamed illegal logging for the disaster.
"Nature is angry with us because we have destroyed the environment. Our relatives in North Sumatra have to suffer because of this," she told a ceremony to mark Flora and Fauna Day at the State Palace.
"On behalf of myself and the government, I express my deepest condolences. I have ordered the ministers to take whatever steps necessary to reduce people's suffering," she added.
But Megawati stopped short of saying whether there was an urgent need for the government to stop the controversial road project called Ladia Galaska, which has affected the ecosystem of Leuser park.
The project was partly blamed for contributing to the flood as the new road has paved the way of illegal loggers to encroach further into the park.
The President instead called on the people to join hands in carrying out the national reforestation program. "Should half of the nation's 220 million people plant one tree, we would have a better hope of preventing more disasters."
Minister of the Environment Nabiel Makarim, who has staunchly opposed the road project, said it was imperative that the government halt the project after the devastation.
He was ordered by the President to pursue law enforcement against the illegal loggers.
He labeled them as "terrorists" as they had caused the deaths of many people.
Nabiel accused the military, police and government officials of abusing their power. "It is obvious that they are behind these acts and they must be stopped," he said angrily.
The minister said he will visit the location of the disaster on Thursday along with Minister of Settlements and Regional Infrastructure.